A man was shocked to see a dog playing cards with three other men. He asked, “Can that dog really play cards?” One of the men answered, “Yes, but he’s not very good. Whenever he gets a good hand he wags his tail.”
Most of us would say that God has blessed us greatly. You might say that we have been “dealt a good hand”.
Can others tell how we have been blessed by seeing our enthusiasm?
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”—Romans 12:11.
A young boy once complained to his father that the songs they sang at church were boring and old-fashioned, and that they did not appeal to his generation. His father challenged him by saying, “If you think you can write better songs, then why don’t you?”
The boy accepted his challenge, went to his room, and wrote his first song. The year was 1690, and the young man was Isaac Watts. Among his 350 hymns are “Joy to the World”, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “I Sing the Almighty Power of God”, and many other classics.
Rather than complaining about how things are, let’s try to do something to make life better!
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”—Matt.5:14.
The people who do not obey God are often confounded by those who do. 1 Peter 4:4 says, “They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.”
Those who don’t obey God don’t understand why anyone would: go to church, tithe, refuse to use bad language, refrain from drunkenness, be a stickler for the truth, choose not to engage in sexual immorality, etc. They might even ridicule you or call you names because you do not share their godless approach to life.
We will gladly accept their abuse in return for the blessings that God has in store for those who obey him.
One of my favorite phrases in Scripture is found in the story of the Prodigal Son, from Luke 15. Verse 17 of that chapter starts out, “When he came to his senses…”
This young man had turned his back on a wonderful life on his father’s estate and squandered everything he had on sinful living. It was only when he reached his lowest point—a flat broke Jewish boy feeding pigs for a meager living—that he realized what he had given up and the depths to which he had fallen. It was only then that he came to his senses.
Many of us have had a similar “coming to our senses” moment. Suddenly realizing that you are wallowing in a pig pen of sin can be a life-changing moment.
Let’s be thankful that our heavenly Father is willing to accept any of his repentant children back home again!
I love this writing by Max Lucado:
“You’ll be home soon, too. You may not have noticed it, but you are closer to home than ever before. Each moment is a step taken. Each breath is a page turned. Each day is a mile marked, a mountain climbed. You are closer to home than you’ve ever been.
Before you know it, your appointed arrival time will come; you’ll descend the ramp and enter the City. You’ll see faces that are waiting for you. You’ll hear your name spoken by those who love you. And, maybe, just maybe –in the back, behind the crowd –the One who would rather die than live without you will remove his pierced hands from his heavenly robe and … applaud.”
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” –Matt.25:21.
After hearing his dad preach on “justification”, “sanctification”, and all the other “—ations”, a minister’s son was ready when his Sunday school teacher asked if anybody knew what “procrastination” meant. The boy answered, “I’m not sure what it means, but I know our church believes in it!”
Most of the time procrastination is not a good thing!
“…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”—2 Cor.6:2b.
A doctor gave his patient a thorough examination and solemnly announced, “I think you have about ten more to live.” Deeply alarmed, the man replied, “Ten what!? Years? Months?” The doctor answered, “Nine, eight, seven…”
What do we do when time is short? The Bible has some answers for us. 1 Pet.4:7-11 says, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
We are nearer the end of all things than we have ever been before. Therefore we must pray. Here Peter echoes the words of Jesus, who often urges his followers to prepare for his Second Coming by watching and praying. To pray properly we must be alert and sober-minded. We must be aware of what is going on in the world around us and keep our minds clear for effective prayer to take place. Don’t be distracted. Keep your mind clear. Be serious about prayer.
Then Peter says we must love each other deeply. Jesus says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). How can we love our neighbor—and even our enemies! –if we can’t even love our fellow Christians? We need to strive to love our brothers and sisters in Christ more and more and always be looking for opportunities to put that love into practice.
Finally, Peter says that we need to use the gifts that God has given us. Sometimes the exercise of those gifts involves speaking. Other times it involves serving. Whether we are speaking or doing, the Lord is our source of wisdom and strength. It is God who provides us with all we need to say and do the right things to promote the kingdom of God, thus giving him the glory and praise that he truly deserves.
Knowing that time is short, this is how we must live.
It is told that after the Civil War Robert E. Lee visited a woman in Kentucky who took him to the remains of a once magnificent tree that stood on her property. She complained to him that the tree had been destroyed by artillery fire from the Union army. She stood there waiting for Lee to condemn the North or at least sympathize with her. Instead, he said, “Cut it down, my dear madam, and forget it.”
When we are greatly wronged, we tend to want to hold on to the pain, and we might expect others to join us in our state of mourning. How much healthier it is to choose to forgive and put the incident in the past.
Is there any tree in your life that you need to cut down and forget?
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”—Col.3:13
John Denver wrote a beautiful song to the love of his life, his wife Annie. In that song he tells her, “You fill up my senses…” He wanted her to know that she was a very special part of his life.
I think that God wants to fill up our senses. Our creator wants to be an intimate part of our lives. Our heavenly Father wants to engage us in every possible way. But it is up to us to allow him to do so. Let’s look at some of the various ways we can let God fill up our senses.
Our sense of hearing enables us to listen to God. Deuteronomy 6:4-6 says, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.” When we hear the word of God proclaimed, we must not turn a deaf ear; we must listen to what he says and obey.
Taste is another sense that allows us to experience God. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Some children won’t even try a food that is good for them. So it is with some people who have an opportunity to taste of the Lord. They don’t know what is good for them! Sharing in the Lord’s Supper gives us an excellent opportunity to taste the goodness of God, who gave his only Son as a sacrifice to pay for our sins.
Sometimes the sense of smell can be used to draw us closer to God. A lady once poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house where she did this “…was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3). Even with the scent of worship so prevalent in the air, some people there didn’t understand the significance of this beautiful act of adoration.
Jesus urged his followers to use their sense of sight to deepen their faith in him. After his resurrection, he appeared to them, and they were frightened. He said to them. “Look at my hands and my feet…” (Luke 24:39). He wanted them to see that he truly was the one who had died for them. I think that Jesus still wants us to take a good look at him and know beyond a shadow of any doubt that he is the crucified, yet risen, Lord and Savior.
Have you ever noticed how often Jesus touched people? Sometimes he reached out to them. At other times, individuals took the initiative and reached out to him. And the Bible says that “…all who touched him were healed.” (Mark 6:56). The touch of the Master can cure the greatest human need of all—the need for healing of the soul. Do you long for the Savior’s touch today?
In Luke 15, Jesus tells a story about a young man who ran away from his father. It was only after he “…came to his senses…” (v.17) that he finally decided to come home for good. Maybe it’s time for you to come to your senses and come home to your heavenly Father. Maybe it’s time for you to allow God to impact your life in a very special way.
An arrogant tourist stopped at a country store in a rural area and sarcastically asked an old gentleman sitting on the porch, “Have any famous people ever been born here?” “Nope,” came the reply. “Only babies.”
For the most part, it’s true that we are not handed a certain status at birth. What we become in life is largely the result of a collection of important choices. I want to encourage you to decide to become a V.I.P. in your church.
“V” is for vision. Great church members are those who share with the church leaders a God-given vision for what that church can become. How frustrating it is to hear Christians utter phrases like, “We never did it that way before!”
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (KJV). There are too many people perishing in our churches today! They’re going nowhere, and they don’t see what God could possibly do to revive them in their jobs, in their family relationships and in their place in the community. They don’t see the possibilities for kingdom growth in their church. Our churches must become centers of hope where the vision is cast for a better future. Vision is contagious. When just a few people catch God’s vision for the church, be sure that God will move in the church.
“I” is for influence. John Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence.” If you want to be a significant member of your church, you must exert a positive influence on people.
Jabez boldly requested that God would enlarge his territory (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Simply put, he wanted to be a person of greater influence.
Jesus says that his people are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He is talking about influence. We should constantly be looking for ways to expand our sphere of influence. The more people we impact in a positive manner, the greater effect we can have for God’s kingdom.
“P” is for purpose. You must understand God’s role for you in your local church. Many people are enthusiastically trying to serve the Lord, but they haven’t yet found their specific purpose in the church. They are like square pegs trying to fit into round holes! This can be a source of frustration and can lead to burnout.
We each have specific gifts and talents to use and duties to perform in order to build up the church (Romans 12:3-8). When the people in a local congregation begin to understand how God has gifted each of them, it’s like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle beginning to come together. It’s liberating and energizing to finally understand God’s purpose for you in the church. As you focus on your area of giftedness, you can strive to excel in your specific type of ministry (1 Timothy 1:6). When other people see you doing this, they will be encouraged to follow your example.
Your church needs people who are visionary, influential and who understand their purpose. Hopefully, you are well on your way to becoming a V.I.P. in your church.
Jesustrek 